Van's RV-7A, ZU-YJK: Accident occurred November 20, 2011 near Brits Rashoop Airfield - South Africa

The wreck of the RV7 two seater aircraft in which Mr Jaroslem Klazar, died.

Written by Kormorant | 24 November 2011

A 71-year old pilot died in a horrific accident last Sunday morning.

Mr Jaroslem Klazar, a Czechoslovakian citizen who came to South Africa forty years ago was circling the Brits area when he apparently developed a medical condition which caused blurry vision and crashed his RV7, two seater aircraft into the mountainous area behind Die Hoërskool Wagpos.

Mr Klazar was well known amongst the flying fraternity and lived temporarily in one of the hangars at the Brits Airfield. Brigadier ST Ngubane, Provincial Head: Corporate Communication of the SAPS North West said the pilot was flying alone when tragedy struck.

“He attempted to land the aircraft four or five times, but could not succeed. He later said over the radio that he is experiencing a total black-out and could not see anything. His radio went quiet after that,” Brig. Ngubane said.

Pilots of the Brits Airfield, aware of Mr Klazar’s predicament immediately launched a search in the area and soon afterwards found the wreck near the top of the mountain approximately 4km south from the Rashoop airfield.

Members of the Hartbeespoort Emergency Rescue Unit, SAPS, and Netcare were on the scene first and had to climb a steep uphill before they could reach the wreck. The aircraft was found in pieces. Mr Klazar died on impact.

Members of the SAPS’ Brits Vispol, detectives and forensic specialists were also called to the seen for further investigation.

A dense bush area near the scene was cleared for the SAPS chopper to land.

The air wing assisted Mr Chris Williams a civil aviation inspector from Midrand to reach the scene for further investigation.